Too cryptic...

...for a three-year-old, perhaps? I'm thinking of sending this to my nephew for his 3rd birthday but it's a bit cruel to torture the wee one with a puzzle for a card. I suspect it is even more cruel to require my sleep-deprived sister to explain it to him, along with the origins of the phrase. Ah well! If she ever visits my blog, she'll have a reference handy.

This card is rather appropriate for me, though, as I've made it using some Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper (from the Spring Mini that is due to end). While the weather hasn't been great for picnicking, we've had an influx of ants roaming in our study. Every so often I feel a tickle on my leg, slap it and come away with the harsh chemical smell of squashed ant. Even more often, I feel the brush of something, check my limbs, find no insects and wonder whether I'm going insane. I suppose actually mailing this card to my little nephew and expecting him to get it would be proof of that!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Barely Banana

Stamp:
Tart & Tangy set

Paper:
Bashful Blue CS
Old Olive CS
Summer Picnic DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
A Perfect Day Rub-Ons
Anchored Rub-Ons
Paper Snips
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Black, Old Olive, Rose Red
Whisper White Grosgrain


Oh! The individual Stampin' Write Marker promotion was extended today - it will be ending on December 14. November 30 will still see the end of Spring Mini and the 20% off Rub-Ons promotion so remember to get your orders in by this Sunday.

That hair is really long! Gee!

During our trip to Longji, China, we encountered a group of Yao women who were rather keen on seeing us fulfill our responsibilities as tourists. These duties included photographing them doing their customary hair unveiling and combing as well as allowing them to adorn our heads with their hand-made kerchiefs. Normally, I would not wear hanky on my head as it makes me want to impersonate Luigi of the now defunct WA Salvage - we’re not fancy but we’re cheap, eh! Sandgropers'll know what I'm talking about...but the women were so insistent in such a nice way.

And yes indeedy! Their hair was very long once unfurled - reputed to be the longest hair per head so to speak. I found it fascinating that their hair has the added bulk and weight of an extra length of hair - from when they cut their hair for the first (and IIRC the last) time when they reach 18 years of age. With all that weight on their heads, it's no wonder they were all shorter than me.

I put together this scrap page as part of this month's INKlings Cybercrop hosted by the wonderful Alana. Her second challenge was a scrapbook sketch based on a card layout.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
VersaMark

Stamp:
It's Beautiful wheel

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory
Pink Passion Texured
Tempting Turquoise

Accessories:
1 1/4" Circle Punch
Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
Circle Rhinestone Brads
Corner Rounder Punch
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Heat Tool
Scallop Punch
White Embossing Powder

I thought the combination of the It's Beautiful wheel and Eastern Elegance rub-ons would be a good way to say farewell to the Spring Mini in scrapbook form. I must confess that the only way that I could bring myself to use the Eastern Elegance rub-ons was by buying an extra package while it's on sale this month! *puts hanky on head* We're fancy but we're cheap, eh! *takes off hanky*

20 days in November

There are two neat promotions this month which start today and finish on the same day as the Spring Mini, November 30 [ETA: Marker promotion extended to December 14].


Make your mark on your Stampin' Write Marker collection by choosing the right colours for you! For a limited time only, Stampin' Up! are offering Stampin' Write Markers individually for only $4.95 each. This beats the normal price of $5.75 for the Basic Black marker and you get to choose from all 48 colours in the four Stampin' Up! colour families (ooh! and Sahara Sand too!).

Stampin' Write Markers in alphabetical order

Description	Item number	Description	Item number
Almost Amethyst	100043	Mellow Moss	100038
Always Artichoke	105113	More Mustard	100076
Apricot Appeal	105107	Night Of Navy	100069
Ballet Blue	100066	Not Quite Navy	100059
Barely Banana	100039	Old Olive	100079
Bashful Blue	105111	Only Orange	100051
Basic Black	100082	Orchid Opulence	100055
Blush Blossom	100037	Pale Plum	100036
Bordering Blue	100070	Perfect Plum	100035
Bravo Burgundy	105109	Pink Passion	100053
Brilliant Blue	100057	Pixie Pink	105112
Brocade Blue	100064	Pretty In Pink	100045
Cameo Coral	100074	Pumpkin Pie	105115
Certainly Celery	105106	Real Red	100052
Chocolate Chip	100071	Really Rust	100073
Close To Cocoa	100072	Regal Rose	105108
Creamy Caramel	100078	Rose Red	100063
Elegant Eggplant	105110	Ruby Red	100075
Gable Green	100049	Sage Shadow	100040
Garden Green	100080	Sahara Sand	105105
Glorious Green	100047	So Saffron	105114
Green Galore	100048	Summer Sun	100077
Handsome Hunter	105116	Taken with Teal	100068
Lavender Lace	100041	Tempting Turquoise	100058
Lovely Lilac	100056	Yoyo Yellow	100050

My November newsletter has a product focus on Stampin' Write Markers so sign up if you wish - it's free! Please check the Free Subscriptions panel on the right for details on how to do so.


Get fabulous Rub-Ons for 20% off! Spend $20 on Stampin' Up! products and you can buy any number of Stampin' Up!'s Rub-Ons for $15.96. That a saving of $3.99 per package. If that doesn't get you rubbing your hands with glee, well...ok then. *grin*

Rub-Ons	Page	Item Number
A Perfect Day	11*	111277
Anchored	141	110282
Cherished Memories	141	110281
Eastern Elegance	6*	110284
Urban West	141	110285

Page numbers from Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009 unless indicated by an asterisk (*) in which case Spring Mini page numbers have been used.

All prices do not include Stampin' Up!'s standard shipping and handling of 5% or $5.95, whichever is greater.

Combine all these offers with whatever you have left on your Spring Mini wishlist - November is the last time to Spring Mini to it!

Spring Mini bloom

On first impression, you're probably thinking: this is card on its side, isn't it?

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Handsome Hunter
Rose Red

Stamp sets:
Bloomin' with Beauty
Floral background
Occasional Greetings

Cardstock:
Handsome Hunter
Rose Red
Whisper White

Accessories:
Aquapainters
Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware
Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Neutrals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Rich Regals

Even though I made this card, when I was cropping this picture of it, I actually rotated it to make it portrait - and thought "Doh! That was completely unnecessary". It's probably because I have seen so many great cards made with the blossom standing up that this is almost...unnatural. Some of you may have cleverly based your frame of reference on the piece of Hodgepodge Hardware in which case I give you 100% *hands out gold star stickers*

Hubby is another case. When I handed this card to him, he held it such that the flower was upside down. That's just too lateral, Hubby! *stamps foot (no rubber stamps involved here btw)* *rotates card for Hubby* I suppose it is Karmic comeuppance for my previous naughtiness. *sigh*

Anyway, this is just a reminder that Bloomin' with Beauty and the luxe Purely Pomegranate Wide Satin Ribbon is in the Spring Mini and like all blooms, the Mini will be just a lovely memory too soon. So make sure that you finalise your wishlist from that mini catalogue and submit your orders before November 30 comes around.

Serenity serendipity

Things have been rather busy for me since the Papercrafts Festival. On top of the goings-on in my little craft world, there has been a couple of momentous races - one involving horses and the other presidential candidates! Amidst all that hurly-burly, I made a card using the Summer By The Sea stamp set and the watercolouring brought me a sense of serenity that made me feel as if I had a teensy holiday, away from everything.

Now, when I look at the card, I imagine being the lady in the boat, dipping her toes into the cool water, without any intrusions on her lake of solitude. Of course, to the right of her, off the page, would be a mountain of calorie-free delectable morsels and, quite possibly, Hubby having a quiet snooze. Aaaahhhhh!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Old Olive
StazOn Black

Stamps:
Summer by the Sea set
Sweet Serendipity set

Paper:
Cameo Coral CS
Naturals Ivory CS
Old Olive Prints DSP
Watercolor Paper

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Crop-A-Dile
Jumbo Eyelets in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Natural Hemp Twine
Stampin' Dimensionals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements

Wishing you moments of sweet serendipity for the rest of the week!

A pinch and a punch...

...for missing a post for the first of the month. Yes! I missed posting properly yesterday due to duties at the Papercrafts Festival, which has been a whirlwind of preparation and activity. It has been great meeting so many crafty women over the past two days *big wave* - I can honestly say that I have yet to do a make and take with a man at the fair. Perhaps this is why women are called the fairer sex? Also, a special hello to belle for being so sweet to visit me at the stand.

Stampin' Up! promotions will be starting on the 10th this month - when you click on the Specials heading on the top of this blog, you'll see that markers will be offered for purchase as single items very soon! I'll update the blog with the promotions as soon as they are made public. Also, I'll be sending out my newsletter with all the details on that date too. So, please sign up if you are interested (check out the free subscriptions panel on the left right [don't know my left from my right!] of the page).

This is one of the cards that I have on display when I do my demonstration of the Poppin' Pastels technique at the fair. I can sneak this on now since some of you have seen it already.
Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
VersaMark

Stamps:
It's Beautiful wheel
Short & Sweet set

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory

Accessories:
Mat Pack
Paper Piercer
Paper Snips
Sponge Daubers
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Pastels





Today is the last day of the Papercrafts Festival so poppin' I mean pop in if you can. We have an amazing array of papercraft samples (and I can say this because you should see everyone else's work) and you can even take a photo or two of your favourite pieces. There are also specials just for the show including a Pick-A-Prize for all bundles and if you are thinking of joining Stampin' Up!, you'd definitely want to ask us about it!